Packaging materials



Nov. 22, 1955 E. F. SCHWEICH 2,724,538

PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed Sept. 10, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDWARD F. SCHWEICH Nov. 22, 1955 E. F. SCHWEICH 2,724,538

PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed Sept. 10, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

.1 EDWARD F. SCHWEICH United States Patent 2,724,538 PACKAGING MATERIALS Edward F. Schweich, St. Louis County, Mo., assiguor to Lewin-Mathes Company, St. Louis, Mo.

Application September 10, 1952, Serial No. 308,855

4 Claims. Cl. 229-43 2,724,538 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 'ice of a container constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 3' is a perspective view of the bottom-forming element with a coil of tubing placed thereon, illustrating the first step in the packaging of such objects;

, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bottom-forming element, coil, and the top-forming element illustrating the second step in the packaging of the coil;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container in partially completed or formed position around the coil;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the internal or hub-forming corner construction;

Figurev 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the container in fully formed, coil-encasing position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 38 of Figure7',

Figure 9 is a fragmentary exploded view of the tablock construction forming a part of the present invention; and

It is a further object of the present invention to providea container of the type stated, which is uniquely provided with a central hub-forming construction adapted to support a coil of relatively heavy weight deformable material from a plurality of central support points, thereby materially assisting in supporting the weight of the material when the container is set up on end or dropped on one of its. corners.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container of the type stated having a central hubforming construction which is fully and completely closed when the container is set up for use, thereby efficiently protecting the material housed within the container.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a container of the type stated, which will conform more closely to a circular coil or other similarly shaped object housed therein.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container of the type stated, which will withstand the ordinary stress and strains to which a container of this type is subjected during. shipment and will not readily become dented or otherwise broken at its corners.

It is also an ,object of the present invention to provide a container of the type stated which may befabricated from rectangular board stock or other suitable material of construction with a minimum of wastage thus achieving an unusual economy in manufacturing.

Itis likewise an object of the present invention to provide a container of the type stated having a hub formed upfrom the top and bottom walls by endwise interfitting flaps to form a strong, shock-resistant structure which will support a circular coil or similar packaged article at three or four points even when the package is dropped due to accident or mishandling and will therefore materially offset the tendency of the packaged material to deform itself under impact by reason of its own weight;

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangementand combination of parts presently described and'pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a plan view of the bottom-forming element of a container constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 isa plan view of the top forming element board, or any other similar material. is provided along each of its four edges with inwardly converging slots 1, which are disposed at angles of 45 Figure 10 is a perspective view of the container in closed position.

Referring now in more detail and by reference charactors 'to the drawings, which illustrate: a preferred embodiinent of the present invention, A designates a bottom-forming, element or member which is die-cut or otherwise formed out of a square section of suitable container board stock, such as corrugated board, fiber- The member A to the longitudinal margins of the member A and subdivide the member A into four corner-flaps 2, each having diagonally extending straight edges 3 and a transverse or outer margin 4 centrally provided with a locking tab 5 connected to the main body of the corner-flap 2 by an integral neck 6 and having symmetrical ears 7. The corner-flaps 2 are integrally connected to the main body of the member A across a score line 8 and are further provided with a second score line 9 disposed in outwardly parallel relation to the score line 8.

Between each pair of corner-flaps 2, along each straight-edge of the member A, is an intermediate flap 10 having angular margins 11 disposed in parallel relation to the corner-flap margins 3, being joined integrally to the body of the member A across a score line 12. The flap10 is further provided with a second score line 13 disposed in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the score line 12 and joining at its ends with the score lines 8 of the adjacent corner-flaps 2.

The score lines 12, 13, furthermore, are transversely connected at their outer ends by right-angularly disposed score lines 14 which serve to define small, triangular, internal flaps 15, lying between the flaps 10 and the corner-flaps 2 at the inner ends of the slots 1.

In its central portion the bottom-forming member A is die-cut with four diagonal slits 16, each such slit 16 being coincident with a line running from the geometrical center of the member A, radially outwardly through the geometrical corner-point of the blank from which the member A is cut. In other words, each slit 13 lies along one of the diagonals of the member A. Intermediate its ends, each slit 16 is enlarged to form a cut-out area 17 and is curved around at its inner extremity to meet the next adjacent slit 16 on either side. Thus, the four slits 16 define four trapezoidally shaped flaps 18 integrally provided on their free margins with locking ears 19 having reduced necks 20 and being separated from each other by a somewhat rectangular central cut-out or aperture 21.

of an octagonal sheet of container-forming material preferably the same type of stock as that used inthe bottomforming member A. t

The peripheral shape and size of the member B is substantially identical with the shape of the octagonal area defined in the member A by the several score lines 8 and 13. ,The member B is die-cut in its central area to provide a rectangular central aperture 24 having four marginal flaps 25, separated at their corners by angular slits 26, arranged so as to overlie, and be substantially coincident with, the slits 16. At their inner ends, the slits 26 are connected by score lines 27, which define a rectangular pattern substantially similar to,-and adapted to be coincident with, the rectangular pattern defined by the member A and the score lines 22.

The member B is further provided with four locking slits 28, each of which is disposed in outwardly spaced parallel relation to one of the score lines 27, and is more or less centered with respect to the ends thereof.

It should be noted in this connection that the distance between the geometrical center point of the rectangular aperture 21 and each slit 28 is substantially less than the sected by them. Radiating outwardly from the ends of.

each slit 28 toward this theoretically circumscribed circle are terminal slits 29 for facilitating locking engagement with the ears 19. I

In use, the bottom-forming member A is laid down flatwise upon a suitable table, floor, or other flat surface, which may be conveniently available, and a coil of tubing T is laid down flatwise and concentrically upon the bottom-forming A. It should be noted that the bottomforming member A is laid'out anddesigned for the type of coil T, which is to be packaged therein, so that the coil T, when properly centered on the bottom-forming member A, will be substantially tangent to the center points of the score lines 8 and 13.

Furthermore, the distance between the score lines 8, 9, and the score lines 12, 13, is substantially equal to the thickness of the coil T. Similarly, the dimensions of the inside rectangle formed by the score line 22 is such that the corners of this rectangular pattern will approximately be tangent to the interior circle of the coil.

- The top-forming member B is thereupon placed on top of the coil T with its marginal edges in substantial registration with the octagonal pattern formed by the score lines 8, 13, substantially in the manner shown in Figure 4. Thereupon, the flaps 10 are folded up, so that 'in the'plane of the next adjacent side of the octagon, substantially as shown in Figure 5. Next, the marginal flaps 25 are folded down. Thereupon, the corner-flaps 2 are folded up around the score lines 8 and then bent over around the score lines 9 so as to lie flatwise upon the upwardly presented face of the top-forming member B,

andthe locking tabs 5 folded down into the corners of the central hub-forming aperture'with the ears 7 folded outwardly to overlie the lateral end portions of the marginal flaps 25 of the top member B, as best seen in Figure 6.

Then the flaps 18 are folded upwardly about the score 'lines 22 to form multiple thickness, interior vertical walls, substantially as shown in Figure 8.

Finally, the flaps 18 are folded about the score lines 23 and the locking ears 19 are insertedthrough the slits 28 to complete the container and enclose the coil T, substantially as shown in Figure 10.

Suitable adhesive, such as silicate of soda may, if desired, be applied beneath the folded over portions of the under faces of the flaps 2 and 7 and preferably, though not necessarily, along the inside rectangular opening in the region of the flaps 18.

It should be noted that when the container is completely pasted together the triangular flaps 15 will close the outer corner and the corner-flaps 2 will overlie and be pasted down upon the triangular projecting portions of flaps 10 in the regions of the angular margins 11 thereof, forming a complete interlock at each outer corner and the flaps 5 will be securely held between the flaps 25 and 18, thereby imparting unusual rigidity and strength to all corners of the finished container.

The container of the present invention is, furthermore, exceptionally easy to handle in storage and in shipment and is less likely to be handled carelessly or damaged. For example, the package handler can very readily lift a package formed with one of the containers of the present invention by inserting .his hand through the central aperture and grasping the inner edges or faces, thus being enabled to carry a packageof fairly large size, weight, and bulk, under his arm in a highly convenient manner. Since the hub-forming structure is completely closed, no direct, moisture, perspiration from handling, or other contaminants can reach the coil of tubingT. Finally, containers of the present invention can be very easily handled by being rolled about on their octagonal edges very much in the manner of a disc or wheel. It has been found that even in the case of very heavy packages this rolling action will not, in anyway, damage or seriously harm either the container or its contents.

Although in the preferred embodiment herein described reference has been made to the use of corrugated cardboard as the material of construction, it is, of course, obvious that other similar types of material can be used with facility. In fact, containers of the present invention can be fabricated of fiber-board, sheet metal, and a wide variety of other materials depending upon the particular type of object, which'is to be packaged therein. It should also be apparent that the containers of the present invention can be varied in size and shape to accommodate various different sizes and types of circular disclike or coiled objects.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the packaging material may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container for housing torus-shaped articles comprising a pair of flat members, each having the outer peripheral shape of an equilateral octagon, said members being provided with eight marginal flaps, each of said flaps being folded up into upstanding relation to the member with which it is associated, each flap of one member being correspondingly secured facewise to a flap of the other member, said members each being further provided in their central areas with aligned rectangular apertures bordered by four upstanding respectively interlocking lar aperture said marginal flaps further being provided with ears for engagement with the interlocking flaps.

2. A container for housing torus-shaped articles comprising a pair of fiat members, each having the outer peripheral shape of an equilateral octagon, said members being provided with eight marginal flaps, each of tively interlocking flaps forming a plural-sided central 1 aperture and hub for supporting the torus-shaped object housed Within the container one of said flap members further being provided on its outer periphery with four relatively large marginal flaps of sufficient size to be folded upwardly over and around the other flap member and to extend radially inwardly and facewise thereacross so that the inner transverse margins of said flaps are adjacent to the corners of the rectangular aperture, said ears being adapted to be engaged with said interlocking flaps when the container is closed.

3. A container for torus-like objects comprising oc tagonal top and bottom walls disposed in spaced superposed relation and having marginally registering rectangular central apertures, said bottom wall being provided around its outer periphery with eight marginal flaps folded up and over the top wall to form a substantially continuous peripheral outer wall, alternate ones of said marginal flaps being of such size and shape as to extend inwardly into contiguity to the corners of the rectangular aperture and being provided with ears which are folded down into said corners, said bottom wall being further provided with four interior closure-flaps around its rectangular aperture folded up and into interlocking engagement with the ears and with the top wall.

4. A container for torus-like objects comprising octagonal top and bottom Walls disposed in spaced superposed relation and having marginally registering rectangular central apertures, said bottom wall being provided around its outer periphery with eight marginal flaps folded up and over the top wall to form a substantially continuous peripheral outer wall, alternate ones of said marginal flaps being of such size and shape as to extend inwardly into contiguity to the corners of the rectangular aperture and being provided with cars which are folded down into said corners, said bottom wall being further provided with four interior closure-flaps around its rectangular aperture folded up and into engagement with the ears and with the top wall, said closure-flaps being provided with interlocking tabs and said top Wall being provided with slits for receiving the tabs, said slits having angularly cut terminal portions which diverge outwardly away from the closure-flaps when the latter are in interlocked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,691,995 Saulter Nov. 20, 1928 2,290,117 Mulford July 14, 1942 2,307,076 Ray Jan. 5, 1943 2,320,665 Shearer June 1, 1943 2,471,173 Taylor May 24, 1949 

